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Rep. Gruenhagen brings controversial views to Health and Human Services Committee

By Andy Birkey
Wednesday, January 05, 2011 at 8:30 am

With the new Legislature sworn into session on Tuesday, one new official is coming under scrutiny for opinions he’s shared in the letters pages of local newspapers. Republican Glenn Gruenhagen, elected to the Minnesota House in November to represent Glencoe after Rep. Laura Brod retired, has been assigned to the Health and Human Services Committee. His controversial public statements about welfare, anal sex, abortion and alcoholism — areas the committee oversees — could make for interesting political theater in the months ahead.

The HHS committee deals with the state’s safety net programs — programs Gruenhagen has compared to prostitution schemes, as Bluestem Prairie reported after his GOP endorsement in May.

“Government run welfare programs are little more than a government subsidized prostitution program paying extra money to women who have children out of wedlock,” he wrote. “This has contributed to over a 70% out of wedlock birth rate for Americans with an African heritage. Also, welfare provides financial support to able bodied men instead of incentives for an honest days [sic] work.”

On abortion and substance abuse, two health issues the committee will deal with, Gruenhagen has been vocal about his beliefs.

“The pro-death abortion crowd continually attempts to lie to themselves and the American people that unborn children are not really human,” he wrote in a letter to the Hutchinson Leader. “Of course, medical science has completely proven them wrong, but just like the blind leading the blind, they continue to regurgitate the mantra of Planned Parenthood and the Democratic Party.”

Gruenhagen has said that alcoholism is not a disease and has no genetic basis, despite evidence to the contrary.

Labeling alcoholism and drug addiction as a disease is not only medically inaccurate (since there is no germ or gene), it also sends a false message to the abuser that they are a victim rather than to accept some level of personal responsibility for their abuse and behavior. In addition, it sends the completely wrong message to our young people about the dangers of alcohol and illegal drug abuse.

I voluntarily participated in Gideon International jail ministry with local prisoners for over 13 years. One of the questions I routinely asked prisoners was “how many of you were on alcohol or illegal drugs when you were arrested?” The answer was almost always the same: over 90 percent said “yes.” By the way, you won’t get a DWI for driving with cancer.

Labeling alcoholism and drug addiction as a disease is a recent trend and is bad for both the addicted and the non-addicted. It is rooted in a false psychological medical philosophy that everyone is a victim when it comes to wrong and bad behavior.

The HHS committee’s purview includes sex education and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Gruenhagen has taken a particular interest in sodomy, defined by Minnesota statute as “carnally knowing any person by the anus or by or with the mouth.”

In the Hutchinson Leader, he wrote:

Many have great concern for our country as we have drifted from the Judeo-Christian principles which gave us our liberties and freedoms, into the religion of atheism, such as the belief in abortion, pornography, sodomy as an orientation, evolution, etc. The corruption of atheistic values in our schools and government institutions leaves open the door for a foreign religious value system to influence our country’s culture.

He elaborated in a letter to the Glencoe News:

The primary purpose of my letters to the editor has been to alert the public to the danger of the homosexual agenda, which is the full acceptance and legitimizing of their lifestyle in every aspect of our society. One of their first objectives is to mandate the teaching of this very destructive behavior as normal to the children in our public schools and eventually in all schools.

We, as citizens, need to encourage our social workers, public health nurses, medical professionals, pastors, lawyers and political leaders in our community and state, to oppose this agenda and protect our children from the destructive and confusing influence of homosexuality.

It comes down to this: If you don’t believe that we should be teaching sodomy as a normal behavior to our children, it is time to stand up and say something publicly and voice your dissent before the legal door is closed through hate crimes legislation. . . .

As Bluestem Prairie notes, Gruenhagen tried to get a resolution passed at the Minnesota School Board Association to have what he calls “sodomy as an orientation” banned from schools:

BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE MINNESOTA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION URGES THE LEGISLATURE TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION PROHIBITING THE TEACHING OF SODOMY AS AN ORIENTATION TO OUR CHILDREN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, AT AN AGE APPROPRIATE LEVEL, STUDENTS SHOULD BE TAUGHT THE PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS AND THE MEDICAL FACTS OF THE PRACTICE OF SODOMY, WHETHER PRACTICED BETWEEN TWO MEN, OR A MAN AND A WOMAN. ANY CURRICULUM WHICH PRESENTS INDIVIDUALS WHO PRACTICE THE MEDICALLY PROVEN UNHEALTHY BEHAVIOR OF SODOMY IN A SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE CONTEXT SHALL BE PROHIBITED IN THE CLASSROOM. STUDENTS WILL ALSO BE TAUGHT THAT IT IS COMPASSIONATE AND IN ACCORD WITH OUR PUBLIC HEALTH LAWS TO HELP PEOPLE STOP A BEHAVIOR THAT SPREADS SICKNESS, DISEASE, PAIN, SUFFERING AND DEATH. THERE IS NO CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT WHICH GIVES PEOPLE THE FREEDOM TO PRACTICE BEHAVIOR THAT SPREADS INFECTIOUS DISEASES. WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD PUBLIC HEALTH LAWS IN OUR COUNTRY.

Gruenhagen’s tenacity at bringing up these contentious religious-based issues in his capacity as a school board member prompted five members of the Glencoe-Silver Lake School Board to issue a letter to the editor of the McLeod County Chronicle. There can be little doubt that on the HHS committee he will be as vocal.

With regularity, Mr. Gruenhagen inserts his own biases into school board meetings with not the least provocation. Abortion, homosexuality, safe sex, evolution and countless other topics that do not appear on the school board’s agenda are brought to the fore, repeatedly, and forced onto unsuspecting school board members, administrators and individuals in the viewing audience.

To do so is rude, a violation of school board decorum, a waste of attendees’ time and a disruption in the flow of otherwise quality public meetings.

The school board is tired of Mr. Gruenhagen’s inappropriate behavior and is intent that, over time, repeated actions on his part will not be met with sympathy, understanding, patience and tolerance, as they have in the past.

Gruenhagen has not responded to the Minnesota Independent’s interview request. The Minnesota Independent asked several social service and reproductive health organizations for comment on Gruenhagen, but most said they’d sit back and wait to see how the session unfolds.

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Comments

21 Comments

Steven
Comment posted January 5, 2011 @ 8:47 am

Thank you for shining a light on Glenn. I’ve been ashamed to say I was from Glencoe ever since he showed up on the local scene. In the area’s defense it’s my understanding that people vote for him on his spending policies (which can be summed up as,”Don’t do it.”), but that’s no excuse for giving his man a platform from which to spout his medieval notions.


Dennis
Comment posted January 5, 2011 @ 9:18 am

The Health and Human Services Committee oversees anal sex?

Who knew?


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Different Tim
Comment posted January 5, 2011 @ 9:52 am

Dennis,

Anti-sodomy legislation would originate from the Health & Human Services Committee. Let’s call it the “Child Protection and Healthy Adult Behavior Act of 2011″. It would require schools to educate about the evils of homosexuality and would outlaw homosexual sexual activity in the interest of “public health”. It would also prohibit any child from being parented by homosexuals.

Perhaps you are the lone conservative who doesn’t consider anal sex to be “sodomy”.

Therefore, yes, the H&HSC does oversee anal sex, since conservatives are intent upon legislating morality. It is part of their “less government” philosophy.

Liberals don’t care what you do with your body parts nor who you do it with as long as they are consenting adults.


Concerned
Comment posted January 5, 2011 @ 10:33 am

Tim,
Dennis is obsessed with homosexuality and gay sex. It compromises about 90% of his comments. There is nothing Dennis enjoys more than talking about gay sex.


Bob Gillard
Comment posted January 5, 2011 @ 11:32 am

Me thinks Rep. Gruenhagen protest-est too much. During my 63 trips around the sun, I have noticed that the more people talk about or rail against homosexuality, the more likely they are to be gay. Stay tuned.


Gretchen
Comment posted January 5, 2011 @ 12:11 pm

This social worker is concerned – and will be watching this man CAREFULLY in what seems to be a highly inappropriate post in our state leadership. I find it appalling that the MN-GOP would provide this type of platform to someone who has proven himself to be horribly out of line in past leadership positions. And I will not be afraid to “rally the troops” – in the form of our social work community – if/when he oversteps.


Karl
Comment posted January 5, 2011 @ 12:25 pm

Apparently Gruenhagen sells insurance. I do wonder if he has a close relative that’s a physician. There’s nothing more annoying than a physician who pretends to be a scientific expert because they passed some science tests in school.

Briefly, 1) Science doesn’t “prove” fetal personhood because personhood isn’t a scientific question, it’s a legal and ethical one. I wonder if he thinks Henrietta Lacks is still alive considering her cells are in petri dishes all over the world?, 2) Not all diseases start with a single “germ or gene”; for many (not all) cancers “there is no germ or gene” but rather multiple causes. Also “there is no germ or gene” for schizophrenia, but (thankfully) we don’t use exorcism as a treatment anymore and 3) medical facts on anal sex can be summed up as “play safe” (Though I do love that he’s against women having anal sex. I wonder how many straight men would agree to that?)


Welcome to our newest Health and Human Services Committee member! — Secrets of the City — Minneapolis + St. Paul
Pingback posted January 5, 2011 @ 1:33 pm

[...] Birkey at MN Indy gives us a bit of background on the newest member of the Health and Human Services Committee, and it’s more than a little bit American Voices from The Onion.  Rep. Glen Gruenhagen, who [...]


pudgmo
Comment posted January 5, 2011 @ 2:40 pm

“Gruenhagen has taken a particular interest in sodomy”
Why am I not surprised?


Dennis
Comment posted January 5, 2011 @ 3:24 pm

“Tim,
Dennis is obsessed with homosexuality and gay sex. It compromises about 90% of his comments. There is nothing Dennis enjoys more than talking about gay sex.”

Not that there’s anything wrong with that, eh Tim? You’re not a homophobe, are you?


Progressively Queer
Comment posted January 5, 2011 @ 4:37 pm

Not at all, Dennis.

I’m glad you’re not denying it.


Robert Hagedorn
Comment posted January 5, 2011 @ 4:54 pm

Do a search: The First Scandal Adam and Eve.


Eric
Comment posted January 6, 2011 @ 11:22 am

Dear Rep. Gruenhagen:

The wise and worldly citizens of Glencoe have given MN an unexpected gift in your election to the MN House. Now, long dormant but critical concerns to the citizens of this great state might finally see the light of day.

Yes, I’m alluding to anal sex, sodomy if you will, although the politically correct crowd jokes that by calling it “sodomy” it gives this awful practice an added tinge of the forbidden, thus making it even “hotter.” Such is the wicked, lust-addled mentality of some.

And it must be stopped.

As you’re well aware, “sodomy as an orientation” is now nearly the law of the land. Instead of being taught about the healthy sexual practices advocated by Jesus, like oral sex, cunnilingous, missionary position, doggie-style, woman on top, wheelbarrow position, rope bondage and restraints, mutual masturbation, domination and submission, pain as pleasure, role playing, fetish exploration, erotic massage, heterosexual gang bangs, use of the Hitachi Magic Wand, and daisy chain oral stimulation, our children are being exposed to the Charles Darwin inspired sin of sodomy.

As you are an authority on anal sex–anal penetration, analingous, rimming, anal beads, anal gels, digital anal penetration during intercourse, dildonic anal penetration, anal sexual health, anal lubricants, and anal orgasms–you’re well aware of the catastrophe in the waiting if anal sex should become even more widely practiced than it currently is.

Therefore, I urge to adopt a bill outlawing sodomy in the state of MN. So as not to alert and excite the reprobates in our midst, the bill could be discreetly entitled: Peccatum Illud Horribile, Inter Christianos Non Nominandum (that horrible sin that among Christians is not to be named).

I wish you Godspeed in your vital and holy work to control the sexuality of others.

Best,
Eric


Betty
Comment posted January 6, 2011 @ 12:14 pm

Steven’s comment is very telling. ” In the area’s defense it’s my understanding that people vote for him on his spending policies (which can be summed up as,”Don’t do it.”), but that’s no excuse for giving his man a platform from which to spout his medieval notions.”

Again, Republicans have marched into power waving a banner of fiscal responsibility. And after getting legislative power, their priority is not the budget and the deficit. No, no. It’s those social wedge issues like banning gay marriage, defunding sex education, etc.

Steven, I believe there are people in his district who voted for this man specifically because of his religious-right views on sex and marriage. And I believe they voted for this man also for his racially motivated views on the social and sexual behavior of minorities, especially people of color. It’s the most ofen used dog whistle of the tea baggers. They can support their racial views and see them translated into policy without wearing a white robe and pointy hood.

The only reason the tea baggers, like your representative, call themselves “fiscal conservatives” is to defund programs that benefit poor communities, especially people of color. I guarantee you that he will not support any cuts to programs that hurt his predominately white and rural district.

Minnesota is breeding another Michele Bachmann. And it’s because we are cheap and racist.


Zera Lee
Comment posted January 7, 2011 @ 9:17 pm

We are in for two years of Dancing With The Devil.


Bruce Emmel
Comment posted January 10, 2011 @ 4:35 pm

30 or 50 years ago issues like this would never have been. We had a conscience than that told us right from wrong. Now after years of our culture telling us what to believe and throwing the Bible out the window, we know no different. Instead we attack people who don’t share our pursuit of pleasure and perversion and label them “controversial” .


Dave
Comment posted January 10, 2011 @ 10:17 pm

Fortunately, and sometimes, unfortunately, “our culture” allows any moron to believe whatever intellectually retarded crap they want, and practice it in peace.


The Lord rebuke you!
Comment posted January 11, 2011 @ 12:43 pm

People above believe that the only people that read this site are of the same mind, not independant thinkers I guess. However real Independants, can learn more from the Bible than they can from Hollywood, Television and the flood of perversion side of the internet..

I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home–these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals–these are the very things that destroy them. Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm–shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted–twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. A Call to Persevere But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear–hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Doxology To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy– to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Jude


Katie B.
Comment posted January 12, 2011 @ 6:28 am

Whenever I see posts like Jude up there, I’m reminded of the immortal words of Matthew Broderick:

“I’ve spoken to God many times, and he’s never mentioned you.”


Marc
Comment posted January 18, 2011 @ 1:19 pm

Just a correction Glenn is not the 18A House Rep in Glencoe he lives south of Glenoce with a Glencoe address is the 25A House Rep. Nive to have him out of our School Distrcit and for the most part out of our town..


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